For the first part of this story, please read this entry too: https://shanaelavelle.wixsite.com/wanderlustpaintbrush/post/studio-for-two-july-24th-2021
After months of delays and GoogleMaps stalking of Carson City, Nevada--I finally made it. Things have been stressful and busy in my life throughout the last few months preparing for this event, it had been delayed for massive wildfires in the Tahoe area nearby. This is the event I based my whole year around, and for good reason. I knew it was going to be magical and I never could have anticipated the level of special for this trip.
First of all, I am going through a very remote part of Idaho, Oregon, and Nevada. This means that I have limited cell service, snow has crept into the mountains of this high desert area of America. As usual, Ralph Friedman explains this area best from Oregon for the Curious: "In this thinly populated land, side roads are relatively few...Yet, for all--or because of--its copious silence, its haunted hills, its ghostly rimrock canyons, its vast basis on sagebrush, and its mystic playa, SE Oregon is really a land for exploration....there is a topographical life spirit and a compelling ecological relationship that leaves its spell upon the wanderer."
I drove through McDermitt, Nevada which shares a spot on the border between Oregon and Nevada. Literally, half of the town sits in Oregon and the other half in Nevada. It should only make sense that I found some connection with the lands of both Oregon and Nevada knowing that this is where my parents found each other in their youth. The sleepy, quiet, and somewhat aged town was not very welcoming as I assume the pandemic has been especially hard on businesses in the area. After going through Winnemucca followed by Reno, I made it to Carson City.
My Airbnb host was pretty awesome, I had a great little room in a nice little neighborhood. I met with the local painter community a received a warm welcome from the head of the event, Colleen. She had I had been email/phone buddies for months through getting ready for this event and I couldn't believe how incredible this woman was until I met her for real. She is a beam of sunshine and positivity for the arts in quiet little Carson. Thanks to complications of the competition, I was given the change to enter my painting not from on-site but from a photo provided by Colleen. Colleen helped me prepare my piece for showing, and I had been told that my entry was going to win an award, but I wasn't sure what that meant. This was my first time attending a plein air painting event and frankly, I was so grateful to have a guide and help!
Carson City Strut (pictured above) was my entry, a watercolor on claybord that features a view of the downtown street sidewalk area. Carson is the capital city, but is a modest little town with a fascinating historic district. I struggled to get this puppy framed, matted, etc. I was terribly unprepared for this, much to my embarrassment. Colleen saved me, helped me get it all taken care of. In the end, I can't believe it, but I ended up with a blue ribbon, just before Best of Show. I got to meet and see so many wonderful artists. The Governor's Mansion allowed for the event and everything was really lovely. I can't say enough great things about this event and hope to help them make it bigger and better next year.
